The very purpose of creating ‘Innovationdays’ has been to motivate all organisations engaged in digital production from all over the world to come and be part of the event, where Hunkeler could ensure the right audience to have a look at. The secret behind is not how much sales are happening, but to ensure that the visitors who come all the way to Switzerland should find it justified having found new products with innovative nature, shares Franz Hunkeler.

Offerings at Innovation days…

“With around 80 exhibitors offering varied nature of products and services, to the interested crowed of over 5,400 professionals from all walks of trade spending few fruitful days, which include digital web presses, cut sheet printers from companies like Canon, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Screen, Xeikon and Xerox. Then paper processing equipments from Hunkeler, make the visitors a part and parcel of innovations. These visitors start conceiving their new projects here itself. As one of the visitors was heard conveying his plans to one of his senior staff back home over the phone that he will be returning with few new ideas to execute the same ASAP,” he adds.

POD…

As per Franz, as of now transactional activities form around 60 percent of web digital printing which is otherwise reducing too. And the gainer is book printing segment, where the concept of POD is taking up fast. Gone are the days, when publishers would get larger lot of books and put in the warehouse for long time distribution all over the world. “Though as of now digital book printing is costing more to publishers as compared with conventional process, but if one takes into account the total cost per copy, considering the warehousing and remainder cost, etc, the digital book printing will be a better bet,” he adds.

Finance options…

Talking on the topic of financing of the Hunkeler products, which obviously require higher investments, how the company is helping the companies in this regards, Franz conveys that the Swiss organisation – SERV (Swiss Export Risk Insurance) has been helping Swiss based companies to earn more foreign exchange by exporting. For the much larger and established companies, financing facilities have been feasible. Generally graphic industry does not have funds readily available for such large investments, and this kind of financing help them greatly.

On manufacturing…

Generally speaking, all Hunkeler machines are manufactured within Switzerland. “Earlier one or two models were manufactured in the US, but not any more. We do procure certain components of our machines from other parts of the world, with strict adherence of quality and the final assembly is done here in Switzerland. Nevertheless, looking at the perfection of Swiss people in producing components, I am of the view that we need to encourage local people even if it is costing little more to us,” he says.

Asking about whether they would like to start manufacturing in China, Franz replies, “We can think of going to China for manufacturing if a particular model becomes of great demand (may be 30+ numbers).”

Talking about the Indian market, Franz showed his happiness with the people in India opting for newer and latest printing machines and has a great hope to see Hunkeler machine installations in good number in the years to come!

More info on Hunkeler would be available at Capital Graphics Supply stand (Hall 1, Stall F-21) at PAMEX ‘15.